BDR Thermea is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-efficiency boilers, with annual revenues in the region of €1.7 billion. Faced with increasing competition from new technologies, the company announced plans to develop an intelligent heating system that would make it easier for customers to manage their energy consumption.

Our market research revealed that consumers often feel nervous about interacting with their boiler to manage the temperature of their home, and instead want a thermostat that is attractive and easy to use. Installers also want the lowest-risk installation process.

We designed two separate products – a consumer-friendly thermostat for home-owners and an installer interface for the boiler, focused on making the installation process as reliable as possible. In just nine months, PA’s in-house design team developed both products to provide a fantastic user experience and meet demanding cost targets.

The thermostats can be placed in multiple rooms to ensure the house is heated evenly – reducing unnecessary energy consumption and making life more comfortable for residents. Customers can also control the thermostats remotely via a smartphone app. Following incredibly positive feedback in trials, BDR Thermea is now rolling the new system out across Europe.